Nikki Gamble was Head of English Education at the School of Education at Anglia Polytechnic University before leaving to work as a freelance lecturer, writer and educations consultant. She is a regular reviewer of children's fiction, contributing to the "TES," "Books for Keeps," and the "School Librarian." She has also been involved with the development of materials for the National Literacy Strategy and is currently working on a publication on guided reading for the Institute of Education, London and funded by the NLS.